DISCLAIMER: I don't own Justin Timberlake, his song Sexy Back, Kelly Clarkson, her song Because of You, Fruits Basket, Sailor Moon, or the mysterious hand-guy at the end.
YAY! THIS CHAPTER IS LONGER THAN USUAL! YAY! :3 :3 :3
Thanks to all that review! I love you wit all mah heart! 3 3 3 3
READ ON!
Laura: Well if you didn't keep blabbering, they would be reading now.
Claire:...Silence. Time to watch SMA and Yu-Gi-Oh! Abridged until they review.
Laura: So we're gonna be watching for a long time.
Claire:...I want to kill you. Go pick up that chicken nugget on your floor.
Laura: sigh fine...
Okay...NOW READ ON!
Chapter 8
Tohru..Usagi? POV
I gazed at my tent. Earlier in the week, I walked around aimlessly. I couldn't find a place to stay. Wow, this is annoying! I came to an empty area. It looked decent enough to live in for awhile. I pulled my crystal out. I concentrated, and-
POOF
A tent came out. Good. I crawled in, and saw(happily) it was all set up. I crawled out, and straightened my uniform. This skirt is unreasonably high! I tugged it down a bit, then I checked my watch. 6:17 A.M. I reached in, and grabbed my school bag. "Minna, wish me luck!" I muttered, running off towards school. I poked my head in my classroom.
Everyone was there and talking at their seats. A tall woman was sitting on a desk, and she looked bored. She looked towards the door and saw me. She grinned. "Ah, Honda-san! Please come in." I entered tentatively. "Guys, shut up. This is our new student, Honda Tohru." I waved. "Hi, minna." A round of 'hey's' and 'hi's' rang from around the room. "Take a seat anywhere you like. I'll be starting class in 5 minutes. My name is Mayu, by the way."
She walked back to her desk. I scanned the room quickly, and I walked to an empty desk, and the only people who were near were a tall blonde, and a petite raven haired girl. "Hi, um…can I sit here?" I shifted from one foot to the other while I waited for an answer. "Huh? Oh yeah, sure." The blonde one said distractedly. She went back to her conversation. I bit my lip, and sat down. "Arisa-chan, don't be rude." The dark haired one said to her friend, Arisa. "I'm Hanajima Saki, and she's Uotani Arisa." She half-smiled. "Hi, nice to meet you." Arisa hit me on the back like Mako would. The thought of her brought tears to my eyes.
"Hey are you okay? I didn't mean to hit you that hard…I need to be more gentle. I used to be in a gang." Saki rolled her eyes. "Go brag about why don't you Arisa-chan." I giggled slightly. "You did? My friend Mako-chan almost was in one." I babbled. "Cool. Cool. So now you're with us, the outcasts." Arisa motioned towards herself and Saki. Arisa then pointed to a gaggle of girls who were whispering and staring at a guy with purple-ish hair. "Don't hang with them. They are obsessed with the Prince." She smirked, and pointed at the boy the girls are obsessed with. "His real name's Sohma. Yuki Sohma." She rolled her eyes.
"He's not snooty, but he's just not down-to-earth, ya know?" I nodded vigorously. "Ne, Uo-chan-" "'Uo-chan'? Nice!" Arisa, now deemed Uo, grinned hugely. I smiled shyly. "Anyway, Uo-chan, Hana-chan, will you sit with me at lunch?" I asked nervously. Uo and Hana giggled. "Of course! You're one of us now." Uo smirked. I grinned. Things are seemingly nice so far! "New Girl, you shouldn't be hanging out with that Yankee and physic freak." An annoying-sounding girl interrupted my response.
I looked up at her. "Hi…?" I recognized her as one of those insane girls Uo pointed out to me. "Names Kinoshita Minami. I'm the Vice President of the Prince Yuki Fan Club. I think if you want to be someone at this school, you hang with me, not them." She sneered at Uo and Hana. Hana deadpanned, "I will shock you with electromagnetic waves again." Minami skittered back. "Not the voices…" She whimpered. Uo shook her head in disgust. "See what I mean?" I nodded. Mayu called for attention, so we shut up and stared straight ahead.
After school!
"See ya tomorrow, Tohru-chan!" Uo called to me as I walked out of the building. "Bye, Uo-chan, Hana-chan!" I waved, then went on my way. "This sucks. I have to have a job? So unfair…" I let the Usagi in me spill out and complain. Gods, it's like having multiple personality disorder. I stopped in my tracks. I do have M.P.D, now that I think about it! I shook my head, and resumed walking. My job had to be the crappiest job ever: cleaning some guy's business. After work, I walked home. I felt flushed, and I have never worked that hard in my life! I stumbled into my tent, and grabbed a washcloth. "Just gonna…wash my face…" I mumbled to myself. I began to crawl out, but something stopped me.
Or, rather, someone.
It was Yuki Sohma! And some tall, dark haired guy. His companion was laughing his butt off at my tent. Hey!, I felt like shouting, the Silver Crystal did it's best, so no knocking the tent! But, I'm not Tsukino Usagi anymore. Fresh start Tsukino! Er-Honda. "S-Sohma-kun…" I stuttered. I collapsed, and I felt someone gently pick me up before I blacked out. "Honda-san?" I was shaken awake softly. "…Sohma-kun!" I sat up quickly. I looked around, and I saw him smirking down at me.
Also, bags upon bags were surrounding me. "N-nani?" I looked up at him. "There was a landslide last night. Your tent was swallowed up by it, but I salvaged your things." He smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes. Well, soon that grin will reach the stars, if there's anything I can do about it! "Oh…Arigato…" He handed me my pictures. "I just got these out. Are these your friends?" he seemed genuinely interested. I nodded quickly. He frowned slightly. "Where are you?" I pointed to the real me.
"I cut and dyed my hair before I moved here." I whispered. Technically, it wasn't a lie. "Ah. Well, please follow me to-" "To your new roooooom!"(A/N: Imagine Shigure singing that. If you are not familiar with Fruits Basket, imagine a guy singing in a high voice.) "Room?" Wow, nice answer, Honda. SMOOTH. "Yes, if you don't mind staying here until you have a new place." Yuki elaborated. "Oh. Well, what can I give you in return?" I asked. "If you don't mind cleaning, you can be our housekeeper!" The tall guy suggested.
"Who are you?" I blurted. The guy laughed merrily. "Oh, do pardon me! My name is Shigure, and I am Yun-Yun's older cousin. I am a novelist." "Wow, really? A novelist? Cool!" Yuki laughed. "He writes such perverted things, Honda-san. I don't think you would like them." I nodded. "Yun-Yun-" "Don't call me that!" "Don't be so rude! Maybe Tohru-chan would like to be a model for my newest one: Summer Loves: Book-ACK!" A dictionary flew and hit Shigure's face.
"Ow…Yun-Yun, why did you do that?" Shigure whimpered. "Because you're a perverted old man. Honda-san, please don't mind him. He's really quite harmless." I nodded quickly. I followed Yuki and Shigure to my room. Yuki opened the door, and crossed quickly to the window. "Sorry, we never come in here." He apologized. "I-It's fine! Really!" I assured him. He smiled, and turned to leave, but a guy crashed through the…ceiling? Oh my God it's that pizza guy! "Yo, Rat-boy, I'm ready to fight." The tan, orange headed boy cracked his neck threateningly.
Yuki waved him off. "Kyo-baka, go away." Kyo's anger flared. "NO!" he ran towards him, fist clenched. "D-don't!" I ran behind him, and accidentally hugged him. "Oh Shi-" In a puff of orange smoke, Kyo disappeared, and an orange cat was in his place. "OH MY GOD! DID I HIT HIM IN THE WRONG PLACE, AND HE TURNED INTO A CAT?" I freaked out.
Huh. I would think I would be used to people turning into odd things, seeing as I was transformed into a superhero by a talking cat, but I guess not.
"Um…yes?" Shigure tried. "OH MY GOD WE NEED TO GET HIM TO A HOSPITAL OR SOMETHING-" I was cut off because a loose board that was hanging when Kyo burst through the ceiling fell on my head, and made me dizzy. I stumbled around, and I bumped into Yuki and Shigure.
POOF
POOF
And in their places stood a purplish rat and a black dog. "Uh…what just happened?" "YOU STUPID RAT! NOW LOOK WHAT YOU DID!" The cat, Kyo, hissed. Yuki scoffed. "My fault? Try yours, neko-baka." He rolled his eyes. "RUFF!" Shigure barked. I stared at him, along with Kyo and Yuki. He eyed them meaningfully. "Ah…um…Tohru-chan, as you can see, Yuki-kun and Kyo-kun are the rat and cat, respectively, and I'm the dog. We're cursed, and whenever someone of the opposite sex hugs us…we transform. The only thing is…when we do…"
POOF
"…We're naked." Shigure scratched the back of his head sheepishly as I turned away, blushing like crazy. "Ah. Well um I better get ready for school!" I hurried out of the hall, and I dressed quickly. I grabbed my bag and Yuki and I walked to school together.
ONE YEAR LATER!
I sat on my bed, and looked at the pictures, books, and posters adorning my walls and shelves. I smiled at the 'homemade' zodiac animals on my desk, and laid down on my bed, sinking into the memories of the past year.
I remember meeting Kaugra: the boar and Kyo's stalker; Momiji: the rabbit who, of course, is my favorite; Hatori: the family doctor and the dragon, although he turns into a seahorse…;Hatsuaru, or Haru: he has two personalities and turns into the ox; Ayame: Yuki's big brother, the snake, and a bigger pervert than Shigure; Kisa: the sweetest child ever, and the tiger; Hiro: a brat, a kid who STOLE MY WALLET and called my best friends hot O.O and he's also the sheep; Ritsu: a shy man who cross-dresses and is the monkey; Rin: A cold, somewhat rude girl who is in love with Haru and is the horse; Kureno: the rooster and the first to be free of the curse!; and finally Akito: God of the Sohmas and is a girl! *o*
I remember each meeting distinctly, and I began to enjoy my life here. I can't believe a whole YEAR passed! Then, one day, I broke the curse. I have no idea how, but I did. Kyo hugged me fiercely, after I did though. "Arigato, Tohru-chan!" He grinned at me. Did I mention he has gotten a lot sweeter? "Shut up, neko-baka." Yuki said, but he smiled while saying it. Oh yeah, Yuki and Kyo had been getting lot better along! I'm so happy everything is peaceful now. We went to school, and for some reason, I decided to bring my phone.
I sat down at my desk, and talked with Uo and Hana for a while, as Kyo, Yuki, and the others played poker. "Okay, guys. Shut up time!" Mayu smiled. "School is over in a week, and the talent show-" "We've never had a talent show!" Minami piped up. "I know. Honda-san suggested it." "Oh." she sat back down in disgust. "Anyway auditions are the week after next! Get going!" The class buzzed with ideas, and Mayu just sat back and read a book. I tried to be upbeat, but I just couldn't. Mamoru's and my anniversary is today. "Please keep it down!" Mayu said, then got back to her book. The class quieted down, and after a while, everyone was writing ideas down and the room was silent.
I'm bringing sexy back
Them other boys don't know how to act
I think it's special
What's behind your back
So turn around
And I'll pick up the slack
Take 'em to the bridge!
Oh.
My.
God.
That's my phone! And Minako's ring tone! Why is she calling me? Everyone began to look around for the culprit, while I discreetly opened my bag and began to go through it.
Discreetly.
Dirty babe
You see these shackles
Baby, I'm your slave
I'll let you whip me if I misbehave
It's just that no one makes me feel this way
TAKE IT TO THE CHORUS!
I finally found my phone, and I flipped it open. "WHAT?" I yelled. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE was looking at me. "HI, TOHRU-CHAAAN!" Minako screamed into the phone. I held it away from my ear, wincing as my eardrum shattered. "Minako-baka-chan, was that really necessary?" I asked irritably.
"Nopes!"
I sighed. "Why are you calling me?" "Well, SOMEone's a PMSing princess this afternoon!" she chirped.
I sighed. "Minako-chan, you know when my period is. And I'm. In. Class." I growled the last part. Yuki and Kyo were straight-up STARING at me, and the other people were trying to ignore me, but some were staring at me. Hana and Uo, meanwhile, were laughing.
"So?" I sighed again. "How in Selene's name am I your friend?" I asked. "Beats me!" "You know what your ringtone is, right?" Minako scoffed. "Duh! Of course! It's Sexyback by Justin Timberrrr...shit." "Yeah." I pinched the bridge of my nose, closing my eyes in frustration.. "Well, anyways, I called to let you know were coming today!" I opened my eyes. "Why?" I asked. "Pfft. You know why! So we're leaving in about…3 hours." I sighed.
Wow, I think I've sighed more in this conversation than I have in my entire life! "Fine. You know the address, right?" "No. We're getting Ami-chan to track you on her computer." I laughed. "Nice. Well see you soon." I clicked END, and raised my hand. "Sensei, may I go home now?" She looked at me oddly, but nodded. I bounced up, picked up my bag, and began to walk quickly out of the room. "Tohru-chan, where are you going?" Hana called after me. "Home! I gotta clean and make something awesome to rub in Rei-chan's face!" I yelled back. I ran all the way home. "Oi, Kyo-kun?" Shigure's voice floated out from his study.
"No, it's Tohru!" I called down the hallway. His dark head poked out. "Hey, Tohru-chan. What are you doing home so early?" "Well, I don't have any work today, and my friends are coming over." I beamed. "Oh, Hana and Uo?" I shook my head. "Nope! My best friends in the whole universe! Hmmm….I wonder if the girls are bringing Setsuna-san, Hotaru-chan, Haruka-san, and Michiru-san?" I wondered as I went around the house, picking up various items scattered around.
Seeing as the house was clean enough after my pick-up, I went into the kitchen and I made a chocolate cake and put blue, red, green, orange, turquoise, teal, magenta(Setsuna's part is magenta, seeing as Setsuna's skirt is black, and the cake is black, black wouldn't show so I put magenta down for her eyes.) and purple icing stripes all over it. I decided to dust some silver sprinkles over it, and I shoved it into the fridge. I changed into the light blue jeans the girls loved best on me, and a long-sleeved pink shirt with a message in number saying 1f U c8n r38d th15 U r7y n33d 2 gt l81d*.
I smiled at my reflection, and went downstairs. "Hey, Tohru-chan!" Momiji greeted me happily. I smiled, and looked around him. Everyone, with the exception of Hana, Uo, Akito, Ritsu, and Kureno was there. "Um…why is everyone here?" I asked politely. "We've noticed you seemed down-in-the-dumps and we wanted to cheer you up!" Momiji cheered. "Oh…thank you?" I said, not sure what to make of all the Sohmas crammed into one room. Oh Kami-sama…Mako-chan and Minako-chan are going to FREAK when they see all these guys. I chuckled. "What's so funny?" Shigure asked with a weird look in his eye. I shook my head. "So, what are we going to do?" I asked, sitting down, Indian-style. "Well, I think we could have a music night!" Shigure suggested. My eyes glittered. "R-really? Um, do you have a piano?" I asked. "Yup!" He pulled one out of thin air.
My jaw dropped. "WHAT IS IT WITH PEOPLE AND PULLING PIANOS OUT OF THEIR ASSES?" I yelled up to the ceiling. Everyone's, and I mean EVERYONE'S, jaws dropped. "Um…moving on…" I blushed deeply. Geez, Usagi! Keep it calm!
"Anyway…I vote Tohru-chan to go first!" Shigure got up and dramatically pointed at me. "Yes, I do quite agree, Gure-chan." Ayame laughed in his flamboyant way. "Come Tohru! Play us a lovely tune on this piano!" Ayame picked me up and plopped me on the piano bench. "Onii-san, she doesn't have to!" Yuki protested. I shook my head. "I love the piano!" I said giddily. "Hmm…what will I play?" I pondered. Suddenly, the song I wrote a few weeks ago popped into my head. "I KNOW!" I suddenly piped up. "Jeez Tohru! Calm yourself!" Kyo chuckled. "Gomen. Be right back!" I ran back upstairs and got the sheet music, then ran back down. "Okay!" I sat down, and held my fingers over the keys. "I'm going to play a song I wrote myself. It's called Because of You." Kyo and the others nodded, and leaned forward in interest. Except for Hiro, who rolled his eyes and sighed. "I wrote this a few weeks ago." I added before playing. I cleared my throat and began to play and sing.
I will not make
The same mistakes that you did
I will not let myself
Cause my heart so much misery
I will not break the way you did
You fell so far
I've learned the hard way
To never let it get that far!
Because of you
I never stray too far from the sidewalk
Because of you
I like to play on the safe side so I don't get hurt
Because of you
I find it hard to trust
Not only me
But everyone around me
Because of you
I am... afraid.
I glanced from the sheets to the family I've come to love. Their faces were a combo of shock, pride, and disbelief. I smirked internally at Hiro. He looked awed, and that made me want to laugh, but I resumed my singing.
I lose my way
And it's not too long before you point it out
I cannot cry
Because I know that's weakness in your eyes
I'm forced to fake
A smile
A laugh
Everyday of my life
My heart can't possibly break
When it wasn't even whole to start with!
Because of you
I never stray too far from the sidewalk
Because of you
I like to play on the safe side so I don't get hurt
Because of you
I find it hard to trust
Not only me
But everyone around me
Because of you
I am…afraid.
I thought I heard a clunk of stone chunks hitting stone, like when we do the sailor teleport, but I shook it off. "Did you hear that?" Kyo asked Yuki quietly. "No. Now shh!"
I watched you die
I heard you cry
Every night in your sleep
Haruka rushed to the door. Michiru held her back. "She's performing right now. You mustn't interrupt this. She needs this." "But…But she's crying!" Indeed I was. I was crying as I played, tears hitting the keys as rapidly as my fingers. Michiru gripped her lover's hand. "Let her get this out." She whispered. Haruka nodded, and watched along with the other girls.
I was so young
You should have known better than to lean on me
You never thought of anyone else
You just saw your pain
AND NOW I CRY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
FOR THE SAME DAMN THING!
I was fully sobbing by this point. I lowered my voice, and the amount of pressure on the keys.
Because of you
I never stray too far from the sidewalk
Because of you
I like to play on the safe side so I don't get hurt!
Because of you
I try my hardest just to
Forget everything!
Because of you
I don't know how to let anyone else in
Because of you
I'm ashamed of my life
Because it's empty
Because of you
I am…afraid
Because of you
Because of you
I played the final chords, and sat there, tears streaming down. I sniffed. "Th-thank you." I began to stand when the door busted open. A puffing Rei, Makoto, and Haruka were in the living room, with everyone else behind them. "Who the hell do you think you are, bursting in here?" Kyo shouted. He was ignored and my eyes widened. "M-minna!" I cried. "Usa- er…Tohru-chan! I still have my dare to do!" Rei yelled, charging me.
"What dare…? OH SNAP!"
I was dog piled by my *beloved* inner senshi, and my foot was sticking straight up. "Ack." I croaked. "We missed you SOOOOOO much!" Minako yelled, hugging my torso. "Ack…can't…breathe...Minako-chan…" She let go. I sighed in relief, and punched someone randomly. Luckily, it was Rei. "HEY! That was my ass!" "Oops. So sorry. I couldn't see because someone's sitting on my face." I dead-panned. Rei shoved everyone off, and I sat up, looking disheveled. Haruka and Hotaru we rolling around laughing, and Michiru and Setsuna, were giggling. I glared at them, then smoothed my messed up hair. "You're early…for once." I smirked. "Oi! Can it, Odango Atama!" Rei yelled. I stood up and pointed to my flat brown hair. "Nuh huh! I don't have those anymore! Neeeeh!" I stuck my tongue out at Rei, and she retaliated with gusto, which resulted in a raspberry war.
"Neeeh!"
"Nehehehe!"
"Pfffft!"
"Ptptptpt!"
I reeled my tongue back in, after remembering where I was. Everyone were staring at me as if I grew horns, but the senshi were laughing. "Anyways, I'm glad you're here. Let's go get some cake!" I wiped the tears off my face, and turned, only to be brought back by Minako. "Twinnie-boo, you still need to cry. That's why we came early. Setsuna let me know that you'd be sad." She smiled softly at me, and pulled me close. I tried to hold in my tears, but they broke the dam. I sobbed loudly into her shirt.
"Minako-chan! Why…why doesn't he love me anymore!" I cried, hugging her. She rubbed my back. "Hon…I have no idea, and I'm Aphrodite! But everything will be okay! I know it! Now where's that cake!" I smiled, and wiped my tears away. "The cake is a lie." I said sullenly. "A-a lie?" She fell to the ground, sobbing. "Not the cake!" She was crying hysterically. Rei sighed, and held a hand up when Shigure went to comfort her. "We know how to handle this." She smirked, the walked over to where Minako was huddled. She grabbed a handful of yellow hair, and gave it a slight tug. "Get up." She muttered. She tugged harder on it, and Minako yowled.
"Not my precious hair!"
I face palmed. "Let me get the cake. Mako-chan, wanna help?" Makoto grinned, and followed me into the kitchen. "I missed you, Usagi-chan." Makoto hugged me, then we got the cake. Her brows lifted in shock at the cake, but I winked, and told her to get the plates and forks. She went in first. "I now present Usa-er…TOHRU HONDA'S MAGNIFICENT AND TOTALLY EDIBLE CAKE!" She did a drum roll and I strolled in with the large cake. Everyone's eyes popped out. Rei smirked playfully.
"Let's see if I can eat it without dying, like Mamoru-san and those cookies you made him! Wait no!" My face crumpled a bit, but I placed the cake on the table. "It's okay, Rei-chan. He…he made that choice, and I must live with it." I broke into sobs, and Rei ran over. "Usagi-chan, I'm so, so, so, SO sorry. It's his fault, not yours."
I sniffled, and mumbled, "I want my Mamo-chan."
Rei looked over at the senshi for help. Kyo jumped up. "Tohru, what the HELL is going on?" As soon as he said that, the house started to rumble. I sat up, tears gone. "Minako-chan, move the cake!" I yelled. She got it and ran to the kitchen and placed it in the fridge again. She darted back in just in time for the roof to get busted open. I threw myself in front of Momiji, Kisa, and Hiro, while everyone else protected the others.
"Daijobu?" I looked at Momiji and the kids. They nodded, speechless. And then, a hand reached out and grabbed my throat.
DUN DUN...DUNNN! OMG what will happen to poor...Tohru? Usagi? Meh. What will happen to her? To find out faster, REVIEW! *flies away on a unicorn with pet koala*